The Hawaii Island Art Alliance sponsored Abstract Only! juried exhibit at the Wailoa Center came to a successful conclusion on Aug. 30 despite Hurricane Lane’s antics, as the storm flooded out the Wailoa State Park and Wailoa Center’s lower lanai area for 6 days before it could reopen.
Well over 1,100 off-island visitors and members of the local community attended the exhibit and voted for their favorite Abstract art. The People’s Choice Winner is large acrylic painting, #131 “Untitled” by Danhieux.
The other big winners from the Abstract Only! exhibit were, honorable mentions: Henry Bianchini “New Kapoho Bay”; Maui artist Timothy Garcia, “Shibui”; Honolulu artist George Woollard, “Crossed”; Jeffrey Kurash, “2nd Embrace”; Georgia Santoris, “Mars”; Michael Olson “Portal to Behind 5s”; Danhieux, “Untitled” painting and Jay West, “Flowing Forward.”
Third place award, and also chosen for the State Foundation Recognition Award, was Kona artist Lynn Capell for “Zanzibar.”
Second place was given to “Fifty States” by Joseph Ruesing, and first place was awarded to Ethel Mann for her painting “Lament.”
Mahalo to all the participating artists, Juror Patrick O’Kiersey and to the State Foundation on Culture and Arts for visiting the exhibit and taking the time to support this popular event. A big mahalo also to the talented musicians, Moon Brown, Gary Washburn and Fred Hee who graciously jumped in at the last moment to play at the opening reception.